U.S. and Iran Escalate Military Hostilities Following End of Ceasefire

The conflict between the United States and Iran has intensified sharply over the last 24 hours. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a second night of precision airstrikes, hitting approximately 90 targets including air defenses, drone storage, and an IRGC aerospace facility in Bushehr. Notably, strikes occurred near the perimeter of Iran’s civilian nuclear power plant, though the reactor itself was not targeted. President Trump, speaking from the NATO summit in Turkey, declared the 60-day ceasefire signed in June officially void, citing Iranian provocations against commercial shipping. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched retaliatory strikes against 85 U.S. military sites across Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Iranian forces successfully damaged a U.S. fuel storage facility in Bahrain and downed an American MQ-9 drone. Regional involvement expanded as Jordan announced it intercepted eight Iranian missiles. Despite the surge in kinetic activity, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that technical negotiations regarding nuclear issues are technically ongoing. The escalation has immediately impacted global markets, with oil prices rising 6% to surpass $78 per barrel. Iran has issued an ultimatum, threatening to shutter the Strait of Hormuz if further attacks occur, while President Trump warned that future U.S. responses could target Iranian electrical and desalination infrastructure. Human casualties have been reported by Iran’s Health Ministry, which confirmed 14 deaths and dozens of injuries from the latest strikes.